Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story related to Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling. Other than the plot and a few (very few) Original Characters, it's all hers. Lucky duck, she thought of it first. The only OC in this chapter is Gina. Sadly, I only own the plot and my computer, whose name is George.

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CHAPTER 2: Dinner Party

            Ten o'clock, the morning after sending Tonks his letter, Harry found himself kneading pizza dough. This was the only pizza place in Little Whinging that still used hand kneaded dough and this is where is was working, it was a great stress reliever but sometimes it made him laugh. Harry James Potter, known by wizards and witches throughout the country and farther as the-boy-who-lived and was a wizard about to enter his 6th year of Hogwarts School of Wizardry was standing here in an England suburb making pizza. His summer was going as well as could be expected for someone who'd just lost the closest thing to a parent that he'd ever had only months before.

            He remembered the dream about Sirius the last night and he wanted to shudder. But it was a sunny morning and customers were starting to come in. He had to work.

            It was nearing the end of Harry's shift when he heard a voice growl, "Are you going to stand there all day, boy, or are you going to take my order?"

            "I'm sorry. Here," he took out a notepad, "What kind of pizza did you…? What are you doing here?" He gawked at the three customers standing before him.

            "How's it going, Harry?"

            "Happy Birthday."

            "If you two are done," growled Moody again, slanting his bowler down further over his magical eye. "I'd like to get this show on the road."

            "What are you doing here?" asked Harry, hardly believing that the three of them were standing there before him.

            "We can't come see our buddy on his birthday?"

            "Do we need a reason to visit the guy who's a Weasley as far as everything but blood—"

            "And hair color, are concerned."

            "I told you two to knock it off," growled Moody, "You were told you could come if you promised to behave and you're not behaving." He turned back to Harry, "Can you leave yet, boy?"

            "Er, sure. I'm almost done for today anyway. Just a second." He looked around for the waitress. "Gina, I've got to go early. If the manager comes looking for me…?"

            "I'll tell him. It's only ten minutes anyway, why not stay?" she asked.

            "It's important. I've got to leave now."

            "Is there some sort of crisis going on with your family or something?" she asked, concerned.

            "Kinda. But I can't explain right now. Thanks, Gina." He hadn't told her anything about his life, he just made up whatever sounded natural. She didn't know the rumors about him being "that Potter boy".

            "Alright. Get out of here before he comes back."

            "Thanks, again." Harry put his apron down on the counter and rushed back to his friends.

            "Let's go." Alastor Moody led the way outside. "How do I know you're really Potter?"

            Fred piped up, "I've got an idea. Ask him who ickle Ronniekins fancies."

            "Stupid," he said, pretending to shove his brother, "everyone in Gryffindor knows it's Hermione," said George.

            "Potter, who taught you how to make a Patronus?" asked Mood, loudly over the twins' squabbling.

            "Professor Lupin did."

            "Good. Now. Do you know where we can talk privately?" he asked.

            "Er, I know a park not too far away. It's usually deserted, 'cause if little kids go there my cousin beats 'em up."

            "That's fine. Lead the way."

            Fred and George walked closely by Harry and the three of them talked quietly.

            Fred clapped Harry on the back, "Isn't Mad-Eye such a killjoy?"

            His twin, George, added, "Yeah. We come to see you on your birthday and he's still all serious."

            Harry had completely forgotten that he turned sixteen today. "I forgot that it was."

            Fred rolled his eyes. "Forgot, honestly . . . Since we joined the Order, I mean the bird watcher's club," he amended hurriedly as he glanced back over his shoulder at Mad-Eye Moody, "You'd think we'd get a little more respect but it's the same as ever."

            "Yeah, coming to kidnap you, old boy, is our first assignment."

            "Great kidnapping," Harry teased them. "Alright, Harry, come leave work and fly away with us."

            George shrugged. "We wanted to sneak into your room in the middle of the night and stick a pillowcase over your head and carry you off, only—"

            "—Some people didn't reckon it was such a good idea."

            Harry grinned and sought a new topic, "So how's the joke business holding up?"

            "It's doing real well. Business is booming. Especially since all the Hogwarts kids are on their summer holidays. They are well prepared to skive off lessons and wreak havoc and mayhem on whatever poor soul they get to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."

            "I hope they use those fireworks in Snape's classroom," said Harry eagerly. "We're here." The park was deserted, it was nearing dark and none of the younger children stayed around here this late or they were bound to run into 'Big D' and his gang.

            "Follow me," said Moody, shortly. He made a beeline for the jungle gym. "Get in here." Once the four of them were crowded in, he put an impertuble charm around them. "I'm sure you're wondering, Harry, what we're doing here."

            "Actually Fred and George said you're here to kidnap me. Great. Take me anywhere other than number 4 Privet Drive and I'll be thrilled." Number 4 was where the Dursleys lived.

            Moody shot the twins a dark look and they tried to shrug it off.

            Harry grew alarmed. "You didn't come because I forgot to send a letter, did you? I sent it to Tonks last night . . ."

            "We got the letter. We're going to take you Headquarters. Dumbledore wants to see you."

            "About what?"

            "Can't speak of it here."

            "Harry, here." George took a letter from his pocket and handed it to him. "Ron would murder us if we forgot to give you his letter."

            "Poor chap wanted to come but as he can't Apperate, and we didn't want to chance the Floo network, he couldn't. Not that there'd be any point in Apperating away from here anyway. You're too young to Apperate too."

            "How'd you get here?"

            "Apperated," he said smugly. Apperating was disappearing one place and appearing another at will. Because of complications a wizard had to be of age, pass a test , and get a license to Apperate.

            "How are we leaving? I am coming with you."

            "Tell you later. Mad-Eye will tell you, I expect."

            "Alright, we're going to go back to number 4 now. I've studied a Muggle map and know the shortest distance to get there. Fred, I want you on Potter's right front. George, on the left front. Me, I'll cover the back. Defend him at all costs. Potter, do you have your wand on you?"
            "Yeah."

            "Under no circumstances use it unless the three of us are dead and you must. There's a back up squad nearby. If something should happen to all three of us, light this flare." He handed Harry a Filbuster No-Heat-Wet-Start Firework. "If such happens proceed directly to your aunt and uncle's house and await further orders. We will depart from there later tonight. Understood?"

            "Yes, sir."

            "All this is on Dumbledore's orders, boy. Proceed now with caution." He lifted the spell and they left the park.

            Harry noticed an air of seriousness around the twins, despite their usual cheer and jokes.

            "Harry, if you had to choose, would you pick us or one of those big Muggle bodyguards? You know, the ones in the films, big muscle men in dark suits and glasses."

            He pretended to consider. "I suppose you, but only if I couldn't get Ginny. The way she hexed Malfoy last year was spectacular, you might have seen it if you bums hadn't left school." The Weasley twins were now living legends at Hogwarts. He grinned. "Since when did you see a Muggle film?"

            "We had time to kill before your shift ended today and we went to the cinema."

            "Wanted to come and get you but Mad-Eye said we'd be attracting too much attention if you missed work."

            "What are you doing with a Muggle job anyway? You've got a vault of gold at Gringotts," remarked Fred. Gringotts was the wizard bank and Harry had inherited a small fortune from his parents.

            "Yeah, well the shops around here don't take Galleons or Sickles. Only pounds sterling. Besides that, I was bored."

            "We're nearly there. Keep a sharp eye out," warned Moody.

            "Won't you do that for us though?"

            "Your eye is better than any of ours."

            Moody had a magical eye that could see through things, including the back of his head, which is why he wore the bowler pulled down over it if in a Muggle area. The trench coat he wore helped to cover his wooden leg.

            Fred and George had on what Harry was sure were dragon skin jackets but what a Muggle would mistake for dyed leather in all likelihood. After all, why would anybody who didn't know magic existed think that two boys would be wearing dragon-hide jackets?

            They approached number four and Fred opened the door without knocking.

            Uncle Vernon's voice roared, "Where the devil have you been, boy? Dudley got home twenty minutes ago. You're late." Harry heard his uncle's footsteps coming toward them. He waited, impatient to see the look on his uncle's face. Uncle Vernon's normally ruddy face went to ash in under two seconds. His eyes widened and he backed away.

            "Surprise," growled Moody. "We'll be staying for dinner."

            Harry had to laugh. Today was Saturday.

            Vernon Dursley lunged at the door and shut it. Locking both locks and closing the window shades.

            Petunia shrieked, "What is it? Is he finally back?" She came to stand at the doorway to the living room. "Not you again!"

            "Yes, us. And we're staying for dinner."

            Fred looked around brightly, "Where's that tub of butter who likes our Ton-Tongue Toffees?"

            "Oy! Dudders, where are you?" called George.

            Dudley waddled out of the kitchen, either curious to see what punishment Harry would receive for coming in late or wondering who called him Dudders. Nobody called him "Dudders" but his mother, and Harry if he was teasing him.

            Fred and George grinned evilly when they saw him. Dudley shrieked and tried to hide behind his mother.

            Mad-Eye looked around, "We've got things to discuss with you. And we're hungry. Lead the way to the kitchen, Dursley. That is if your son hasn't eaten everything in there yet."

            When they got in the kitchen Mad-Eye put an enlargement charm on the table and Fred and George conjured extra chairs.

            Aunt Petunia served the dinner, her hands trembling, and Harry watched everyone. Fred and George tucked in avidly and with grins on their faces. Dudley, wonder of all wonders, hardly ate half his meal. Vernon and Petunia seemed to lack appetite. Harry could tell that Moody was constantly scanning everything with his magical eye. As usual he drank only from the flask at his hip; though an excellent Auror and bodyguard, Mad-Eye was most certainly paranoid.

            "Now that that's done with we can get to business, you lot. We're here to take Harry back where he belongs. Back among decent folk. You're to bring this letter to his boss tomorrow to explain his absence. Understand?" Moody brandished the letter under Uncle Vernon's nose.

            "Now see here, I—"

            "You'll do it or you'll be sorry. Weasleys, go help Potter pack his things. Dursleys, you listen good to me now…"

            Harry wandered up to his room with Fred and George in tow. "Hey, you better read Ron's letter. Fred and I'll pack your things for you."

           Happy Birthday! I hope you get this soon. The bird watching club just made Fred and George members last week, sorry I didn't' write sooner. They still won't let us join though. Percival Wulfric has made plans for you to come. I'm not exactly sure when or why. They won't tell us. I'm still at home but I think I'm leaving soon.

Ron

            Harry looked at the twins. "You delivered it yourself so why did he code it?"

            "He was just getting ready to send it with Pig when he found out we were coming to see you. Besides what if we'd been killed before we found you?" He pretended to have been shot and landed dead on Harry's bed.

            "Have they moved Headquarters yet?"

            George hesitated, "Can't tell you anything about that. Moody'll have our wands for it if we do."

            Fred sat up, looking tense. "Yeah, Harry, sorry. You'll find out."

            He glanced at the letter again. Percival Wulfric was the name everyone was using for Professor Dumbledore in case letters fell into the wrong hands. That reminded him of something. "Is Percy's name still taboo at the Burrow?"

            "Well, kind of. Dad still looks angry if he's mentioned. And Mum gets this worried and disappointed look. But at least she doesn't cry over him anymore. He's a waste of space."

            "He's still pro-Ministry and anti-Dumbledore."

            "And 100% genuine—" Fred started.

            "Certified—" interrupted his brother.

            "Prat." Together they had finished with a single word and an uncharacteristically ugly look on their normally handsome faces.

             "Oh," said Harry as he folded the letter.

            "Yeah," the twins agreed grimly.

            "So how are we getting wherever we're going?" Harry asked. He started to help put away his robes and spell books.

            "We're going Muggle, mate."

            "Yeah. Taking the underground most of the way."

            "Moody'll stick out like a sore thumb," Harry said quickly.

            "Yeah? So what else is new?"

            "Moody's too uptight."

            A voice called from downstairs, "Done yet? We need to get a move on!"

            "Alright!" called Fred.

            "Yeah, don't get your robes in a knot!" added George.

            "That's everything." Harry slammed the trunk shut with a snap and grabbed Hedwig's cage.

            "Heave ho, mate." Fred and George each lifted an end of the trunk and Harry shot them an inquiring look. Fred explained, "Can't do unnecessary magic around the Muggles."

            "Tell your nephew goodbye." Moody was covering Uncle Vernon with his wand.

            "Goodbye. See you next summer," said his uncle, through gritted teeth.

            Under his breath Harry muttered, "Not if I can help it."

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If this isn't too horrible, would you continue reading it? A review would be nice too.